Kent Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2023-2028


Update February 2023

In Autumn 2022, we asked for your views on our draft Kent Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2023-2028. The Consultation Report summarising the results of this consultation is available to view from the Documents section on this page.

We would like to once again thank everybody who took the time to tell us their views, your feedback helped shape this Strategy.

The feedback from the consultation will be used to help finalise the Kent Drug and Alcohol Strategy Action Plan. For example, we will commission some joint training sessions on co-occurring conditions for the mental health trust (Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust) and substance misuse services (Change, Grow, Live and Forward Trust).

We are also looking to commission a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO) in the coming months. A LERO is an organisation or service primarily made up of people with lived experience in relation to the subject matter, in this case experience of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services and/or having a drug and alcohol support need. This is in response to your feedback, for example, “I think there is room for more engagement with people with lived experience of drug and alcohol problems throughout this strategy”.

The final Strategy, alongside this consultation report and updated Equality Impact Assessment will be presented to the Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee on 16 March 2023 with a recommendation for its adoption. The final Strategy will be made available on this page.



Original Text

We would like to hear your views on the new Kent Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2023-2028.

The Strategy is owned and overseen by the Kent Substance Misuse Alliance, a partnership of key stakeholders who work together to tackle alcohol and drug related harms. This is important for the wide-reaching nature of substance misuse and importance of tackling supply, crime and disorder.

The heart of this Strategy is to empower, encourage and support individuals and communities to take a more active role in preventing and reducing the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol in Kent. It contains 13 strategic priorities, grouped under three areas; Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, and Community Safety.

The Strategy is driven by the Kent Drug and Alcohol Needs Assessments, which are available to view from the 'Useful links' section on this page. The assessments include a variety of data sources, including; hospital episode data, ONS and Kent substance misuse treatment service data, taking account of national guidance and reflecting the evidence base.

Have your say

We want to hear from anybody impacted by drugs and alcohol to help shape future treatment and recovery services in Kent, including:

  • individuals that have experience of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services
  • family and friends of individuals that have been impacted by drugs and/or alcohol
  • practitioners working with individuals that have a drug and/or alcohol support need.

There are two ways you can get involved:

  • read the draft Strategy (which is available to download from the 'Documents' section, along with a short summary) and tell us your views by completing the questionnaire.
  • visit our ideas board to tell us your ideas for how we can improve drug and alcohol services in Kent. You can also like and comment on other people's ideas.

Following the end of the consultation, a report will be produced summarising the feedback received. This feedback will be used to help finalise the Strategy, which alongside the consultation report will be presented the Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee before the Strategy is agreed and finalised.


Update February 2023

In Autumn 2022, we asked for your views on our draft Kent Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2023-2028. The Consultation Report summarising the results of this consultation is available to view from the Documents section on this page.

We would like to once again thank everybody who took the time to tell us their views, your feedback helped shape this Strategy.

The feedback from the consultation will be used to help finalise the Kent Drug and Alcohol Strategy Action Plan. For example, we will commission some joint training sessions on co-occurring conditions for the mental health trust (Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust) and substance misuse services (Change, Grow, Live and Forward Trust).

We are also looking to commission a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO) in the coming months. A LERO is an organisation or service primarily made up of people with lived experience in relation to the subject matter, in this case experience of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services and/or having a drug and alcohol support need. This is in response to your feedback, for example, “I think there is room for more engagement with people with lived experience of drug and alcohol problems throughout this strategy”.

The final Strategy, alongside this consultation report and updated Equality Impact Assessment will be presented to the Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee on 16 March 2023 with a recommendation for its adoption. The final Strategy will be made available on this page.



Original Text

We would like to hear your views on the new Kent Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2023-2028.

The Strategy is owned and overseen by the Kent Substance Misuse Alliance, a partnership of key stakeholders who work together to tackle alcohol and drug related harms. This is important for the wide-reaching nature of substance misuse and importance of tackling supply, crime and disorder.

The heart of this Strategy is to empower, encourage and support individuals and communities to take a more active role in preventing and reducing the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol in Kent. It contains 13 strategic priorities, grouped under three areas; Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, and Community Safety.

The Strategy is driven by the Kent Drug and Alcohol Needs Assessments, which are available to view from the 'Useful links' section on this page. The assessments include a variety of data sources, including; hospital episode data, ONS and Kent substance misuse treatment service data, taking account of national guidance and reflecting the evidence base.

Have your say

We want to hear from anybody impacted by drugs and alcohol to help shape future treatment and recovery services in Kent, including:

  • individuals that have experience of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services
  • family and friends of individuals that have been impacted by drugs and/or alcohol
  • practitioners working with individuals that have a drug and/or alcohol support need.

There are two ways you can get involved:

  • read the draft Strategy (which is available to download from the 'Documents' section, along with a short summary) and tell us your views by completing the questionnaire.
  • visit our ideas board to tell us your ideas for how we can improve drug and alcohol services in Kent. You can also like and comment on other people's ideas.

Following the end of the consultation, a report will be produced summarising the feedback received. This feedback will be used to help finalise the Strategy, which alongside the consultation report will be presented the Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee before the Strategy is agreed and finalised.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Tell us your views on the draft Strategy

    We would like to hear your views on our draft Drug and Alcohol Strategy for 2023 to 2028. We recommend you read the draft strategy before responding to this questionnaire.

    The questionnaire is split into five sections:

    • Section 1 - About You
    • Section 2 - Review of the 2017-2022 Strategy
    • Section 3 - Your feedback on our proposed Strategy
      • Priorities for the new Strategy
      • Any other comments on our draft strategy?
    • Section 4 - Equality Analysis
    • Section 5 - More About You

    You can answer all or as many of the questions as you like. If you would rather not provide feedback on a section or question, just move on to the next one. 

    Complete Form